White House: Funds for New York transit security actually are up

NEW YORK — The Obama administration, countering criticism from lawmakers, said Thursday that federal funding for New York City’s mass transit and port security is actually going up.

As President Barack Obama headed to the city for a fundraiser, the White House was countering lawmakers’ claims that the Department of Homeland Security planned to chop New York’s funding. Meanwhile, federal agents were conducting raids in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey in connection with the failed Times Square car bomb on May 1.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he had spoken with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

“I made it clear to him that it was critically important that we get our fair share of Homeland Security funding,” said Bloomberg. Emanuel responded that “he understands and that the president understands that New York City remains a prime target for terrorists. And Ram made a commitment to me that he would work with us on this issue,” the mayor said.

Bloomberg said he understands federal budget constraints, but “my job is to make sure we get more.” When terrorists are caught, he added, “they’ve got a map of New York City in their pocket.”

White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro said earlier reports ignore $100 million in stimulus funding for port and transit security grants. Shapiro says that gives the city a total of $245 million.

Rep. Peter King maintains the DHS would give the city $111 million for mass transit security. That’s a 27 percent cut from a year earlier, with a 25 percent cut in port funding to $34 million. King said the one-time stimulus money is from 2009 that’s rolling over into this year.